Military hearing resumes in Manning leak case

AP ^ | 12/17/11 | PAULINE JELINEK and DAVID DISHNEAU

[SmithL]

FORT MEADE, Md. (AP) -- The military court case against the young soldier blamed for the largest leak of classified material in American history resumed Saturday after an Army appeals court rejected a defense effort to remove the presiding officer.

Army Pfc. Bradley Manning was back in a military courtroom Saturday, his 24th birthday, to hear prosecutors begin presenting their case against him as the source for the WikiLeaks website's collection of U.S. military and diplomatic secrets.

The purpose of the hearing is to determine whether prosecutors have enough evidence to bring Manning to trial. Manning's lawyers tried to oust Lt. Col. Paul Almanza as the presiding officer because of alleged bias, but an Army appeals court rejected their request late Friday.

Separately, lawyers for WikiLeaks and founder Julian Assange are asking the Army Court of Criminal Appeals to guarantee them two seats in the courtroom at Fort Meade.

Manning, a one-time intelligence analyst stationed in Baghdad, is accused of leaking hundreds of thousands of sensitive items including Iraq and Afghanistan war logs, State Department cables and a classified military . . .

[alarm rider]

This poor excuse for a man is a traitor. He deserves what every traitor deserves, that which we no longer do to traitors.

[SunkenCiv]

Pauline Jelinek and David Dishneau, shilling in AP:

The military court case against the young soldier... Army Pfc. Bradley Manning was back in a military courtroom Saturday, his 24th birthday... Manning's lawyers tried to oust Lt. Col. Paul Almanza as the presiding officer because of alleged bias, but an Army appeals court rejected their request late Friday. Separately, lawyers for WikiLeaks and founder Julian Assange are asking the Army Court of Criminal Appeals to guarantee them two seats in the courtroom at Fort Meade.

Thanks SmithL.

[Calusa]

Separately, lawyers for WikiLeaks and founder Julian Assange are asking the Army Court of Criminal Appeals to guarantee them two seats in the courtroom at Fort Meade.

Cheeky Monkeys

[Chode]

living roof of why a beret should be EARNED, not issued...

[SmithL]

guarantee them two seats in the courtroom at Fort Meade.

How about guaranteeing them seats at the firing squad?

[GAB-1955]

I would be content with twenty years in prison for him. His damage was broad, but narrow. He didn’t even know what he was unloading. As a spy, he’s a fool. No one will swap for him.

[dfwgator]

He’ll be the “Belle of the Ball” in prison.

[GAB-1955]

I object to that myself. Being raped in prison is not part of the punishment. If it were, it would have to be by the staff. It's like being shanked... it happens but should not be formally demanded.

[dfwgator]

Well isn’t rape against the person’s will? Somehow I think Ms. Manning will actually enjoy it.

[Excuse_My_Bellicosity]

Glad to see that the repeal of the ban on homos is working so well.